Valuing both passion and tradition, there’s one Baton Rouge art gallery whose owners have just as much family history as the artwork displayed inside.
Inspired by an ever-present appreciation for art and history, Shelby Gilley decided to switch from life as a social worker to gallery owner in 1978, and with that, Gilley’s Gallery was born.
Shelby spent years building his Florida Boulevard business and art collection alongside he and his wife Marie’s shop, Bridal Boutique, until his death in 2010, leaving his wife and their sons to tend to the art haven, which features outsider, folk and fine art styles. Although his wife still owns the gallery, their son, Eric, is its current director, who’s become quite familiar with the artistic atmosphere throughout his life.
“Our house was kind of like a gallery as well,” Eric said. “Good stuff would come home, but sometimes good stuff would disappear too.”
Eric spends his days running the gallery, working on everything from art appraisals to advertising, and coincidently enough, his wife now manages the boutique next door, similar to his parent’s history. When Shelby and his wife opened the gallery, Eric said his father still wanted to be close by, which is why he chose to open his shop in the same building.
University students shouldn’t hesitate to stop by, either. Even though the art showcased is quite expensive, it’s still an opportunity for exposure to a variety of well-known artists. Eric said students have visited the gallery before, and said he wouldn’t mind offering discounts on framing for those in need of those
services.
Upon entering the gallery, visitors eyes meet framed works, rich with color decorating each wall from top to bottom, except for the occasional blank space thanks to a purchase. Luckily, there’s still plenty of artwork to take its place, including the works of Louisiana folk artist, Clementine Hunter.
Eric said his father personally knew Hunter and bought his first painting from her in 1970, and he eventually inherited that particular painting. Although several individuals took notice of Hunter’s works around the same time, Eric said his father was considered to be an expert on Hunter when it came to marketing and determining authenticity — a discerning eye for certain qualities Eric has learned along the way.
Aside from Hunter’s work, the gallery also features other local artists, such as Louisiana natives Robert Rucker, Don Wright and Emerson Bell, and John James Audubon prints, but the artists span across the southern region.
Eric said his father spent time buying directly from several of the artists featured, but as time has passed, the market for these particular styles of work has narrowed.
“Younger audiences are finding out about or know about this art because their parents had it, but they’re not necessarily wanting to buy or own it,” Eric said. “Swamp scenes may not be what the newer generation desires.”
The gallery opens up to a workshop filled with a variety of framing options. Aside from appraisals, consultations, installations and the buying and selling of art, a large part of thebusiness is its framing.
Eric’s brother, Barton, is involved with the gallery’s framing aspect. He does most of the framing, and even though he’s mainly interested in the kinetic arts, he said he enjoys how each framing request is it’s own little project.
“It’s the bread and butter,” Barton said. “It carries [the business] through in between selling a large piece of work.”
Eric said it’s always interesting to learn about the inspiration behind each piece, and since some of the artists featured have since died, those who are curious about the artworks have to do a little digging to find the story.
“Maybe that comes from my dad — that whole history part of it,” Eric said. “Getting a piece from history, like Clementine [Hunter], means you have to put that puzzle together.”
The gallery’s current location used to be part of a busier area of town, but Eric said it’s always been a downfall that the business isn’t downtown or in a shopping center where foot traffic would be greater. Although moving is always an option, the family already owns the current building.
While he has no plans to change the gallery’s artistic focus, Eric said he’s open to finding new talented artists to add to the gallery, perhaps even artists from the University one day. In the meantime, he said students are more than welcome to visit.
You can reach Greta Jines on Twitter @TheGretaJines.

Gallery • 5 Photos

Ronni Bourgeois

Gilley's Gallery is a 37 year running gallery and frame shop located on Florida Boulevard where Louisiana's history and culture is celebrated.